DemonicLemming
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2008
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Quote:
I would respond to two points here -
Waxing the headphones isn't going to "change" them any more than waxing a car, assuming the wood is already treated with some sort of clear coat or lacquer from the factory. Adding carnauba wax is simply putting another layer of shiny stuff on top. It's not going to change the character, resonance ability, structure, or physical properties of the wood, and if you want to remove it, all it takes is warm water and mild soap. Assuming the wood isn't treated from the factory, waxing the headphones with carnauba isn't going to change the headphones any more than normal handling would - because untreated wood will absorb the oil from your hands when you touch them. Even, for the sake of argument, assuming you do change them, it would be a color change only, and since it's wood, every set of cans coming off the line is going to have a different color anyway.
Now, if the OP was asking about applying, say, clearcoat or lacquer over raw wood, then I'd agree with the motorcycle painting analogy; however, wax is very easily reversible, and not nearly as radical in changing them as something like a recable job, or the markl mod.
As far as removing the lettering while buffing, that shouldn't be a concern, assuming one uses the proper technique to apply the wax and remove the residue. It doesn't take much pressure at all - no more than cleaning with a damp rag to remove dirt - so I'd doubt the lettering would come off, unless it's a headphone that's known to lose said lettering during normal handling.
| Originally Posted by nikongod /img/forum/go_quote.gif Do they even need to be waxed? I know you will say yes, because that is the theme of this thread, so I will put my next post right here. The preservation of something old is a noble goal, but are you preserving it or changing it? This is a tricky question. at some point changing it does preserve it better, but at some point it is change for the sake of change. They built new stuff for the sake of change, no need to bother with the old. IMHO with a rare and expensive headphone this is VERY similar to repainting an antique motorcycle. The bike is often worth more with 1/4 of the original paint flaking off, and the rest shortly behind VS a full brand new paint job. to add another question: If the woodies need to be waxed, what condition do you think that they are in when none of the previous owners of these 5 (or so) year old headphones has ever done it? what about 10 and almost 20 year old woodies? and as a third: are you more likely to remove the lettering from a headphone letting it sit on your head and treating it well, or while buffing the new coats of wax? |
I would respond to two points here -
Waxing the headphones isn't going to "change" them any more than waxing a car, assuming the wood is already treated with some sort of clear coat or lacquer from the factory. Adding carnauba wax is simply putting another layer of shiny stuff on top. It's not going to change the character, resonance ability, structure, or physical properties of the wood, and if you want to remove it, all it takes is warm water and mild soap. Assuming the wood isn't treated from the factory, waxing the headphones with carnauba isn't going to change the headphones any more than normal handling would - because untreated wood will absorb the oil from your hands when you touch them. Even, for the sake of argument, assuming you do change them, it would be a color change only, and since it's wood, every set of cans coming off the line is going to have a different color anyway.
Now, if the OP was asking about applying, say, clearcoat or lacquer over raw wood, then I'd agree with the motorcycle painting analogy; however, wax is very easily reversible, and not nearly as radical in changing them as something like a recable job, or the markl mod.
As far as removing the lettering while buffing, that shouldn't be a concern, assuming one uses the proper technique to apply the wax and remove the residue. It doesn't take much pressure at all - no more than cleaning with a damp rag to remove dirt - so I'd doubt the lettering would come off, unless it's a headphone that's known to lose said lettering during normal handling.
